| Project by bigfoot11 | posted 01-04-2017 07:56 PM | 2086 views | 6 times favorited | 6 comments |  |
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If you’re new to wood turning like me, by the time you’ve bought the lathe, chisels, and all the accessories, dropping another $50 on a pen press just seems ridiculous. Before you say “but you don’t know”, I do know; I used one extensively at a friend’s shop and I don’t really see the reasoning behind such an expense.
My first idea was to use a toggle clamp but the good quality Bessey ones are close to $30 and that’s really getting close to $50. The second idea was a pipe clamp but again you’re into the $20 range and you will do quite a bit more of work to stabilize a round pipe. I settled on a standard aluminum bar clamp because those can be had for $9.99 at Harbor Freight or even cheaper at some discount tool stores.
Quick video and photos http://www.gowoodwork.com/2017/cheap-and-easy-pen-press/
6 comments so far
woodbutcherbynight
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10906 posts in 3902 days
#1 posted 01-04-2017 09:26 PM
Good idea and the price is good. Under $10 and some time not bad. I have a fancy press someone gave me and it worked but I did make some modifications over the years to tweek it some.
-- Live to tell the stories, they sound better that way.
Lalen
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#2 posted 01-05-2017 09:50 PM
great idea! thanks!
-- Lalen, Texas. "If it looks straight, it is straight" Jimmy Diresta
BigET
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#3 posted 01-06-2017 01:58 AM
Very nice! The next time I am at Harbor Freight I will pick up one of these clamps so I can build this press. Your video is excellent!
-- Earl in Maine
woodbutcherbynight
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#4 posted 01-06-2017 02:43 AM
Here is a idea for a jig for drilling pen blanks. here is link with more pics, sorry no video.
-- Live to tell the stories, they sound better that way.
jeff
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#5 posted 01-06-2017 08:31 AM
Nice idea thanks for the write up and pics.
-- Jeff,Tucson,Az.
Scott Oldre
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#6 posted 01-08-2017 01:29 PM
Great idea, which I intend to borrow. I make a lot of pens for church, and this will help.
-- Scott, Irmo SC
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